Diana Jarrett

Black diamonds are on an upward course after years of being a misunderstood stone - or even worse, thought of as a manufactured gem. Still, mainstream consumers know little about this fascinating jewel. Fortunately, their rich story can fuel public interest and provide jewelers with fodder to tempt their customers with this monochromatic nugget.

Various global deposits have produced black diamonds although not all were destined for the jeweler’s bench. Diamond mining’s glory days in Brazil’s 19th century and later in South Africa exposed awesome specimens that intrigued diamond aficionados. The treasures were quickly spirited away into private collections. Unattractive blackish rough that could not be successfully polished for jewelry was routinely classified as industrial-use carbonado.

Today in our era of hyper-personalized jewelry, it’s seems a bit counter intuitive to learn that antique and vintage jewels are more popular than ever. Once a consumer grasps the fact that most of these early pieces are indeed one of a kind, then respect is earned and the consumer is drawn into the experience of viewing these miniature works of art.

Jewelry tells the story of our life. One jewelry type in particular - the charm, is most iconic for explaining life’s milestones in a single glance. Is there an Eiffel tower charm dangling from a bracelet? We know where you’ve been.

Precious opal has been holding fans spellbound for centuries. The gemstone is unique in more ways than its kaleidoscopic appearance. This stone is a hydrated amorphous form of silica and usually contains between 6 - 10% water by weight. It’s not unheard of for specimens to have up to 20% water, either.

Not all Cartier objects are jewelry. The century old jeweler to nobility and the famous turned out an enormous array of luxury goods over the years. Each object became a window into the times and lifestyle of the era in which it was produced. The venerable house of Cartier created lavish rare jewelry including tiaras for their aristocratic clientele, which were plenteous. During the Art Deco period they were considered to be the dominant jeweler of high society around the world. At auction one can still find Cartier’s cocktail and smoking accessories, which were wildly popular in the 1920s.

February is all about love. Valentine’s Day is a jewelers dream because one can market all kinds of luxury items to your customers. And since shoppers are looking for special tokens of affection for family and friends, and not just for romantic partners, you can paint the Valentine story with a broad brush.

The trait that makes colored gemstones so appealing is their storytelling opportunity. Most of them are sourced in remote parts of the world, often at great peril to the gem hunter. Political hot-spots and treacherous accessibility near mining regions contribute to the overall risky climate involved with their harvest.